On 22nd February 2024, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published employer guidance on menopause in the workplace. The guidance explains: Menopause and perimenopause Menopause is when a woman’s periods stop owing to lower hormone levels. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but can be earlier or later. It can…
New employment legislation to come into effect on 6th April 2024
Paternity leave changes The main changes to statutory paternity leave are: New flexibility is being introduced, allowing employees to take two separate one-week blocks of leave rather than having to take a single period of one or two weeks’ paternity leave. Employees will be entitled to take paternity leave at any time in the first…
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£470,000 awarded to employee sacked for using the ‘N-word’
An employment tribunal (‘ET’) decided at a liability hearing that a manager, Mr Borg-Neal, who used an offensive racial term in a race awareness training session, was unfairly dismissed and subjected to discrimination because of something arising from his disability (dyslexia). We discussed the reasons for the decision and what we can learn from it…
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How is holiday pay changing?
The way holiday pay is calculated changed in England, Wales and Scotland on 1st January 2024 under the draft Employment Rights (Amendment Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations). So, what is changing? Unlawful deductions from wages claims Workers will continue to receive four weeks of holiday at ‘normal’ pay (referred to as Annual Leave)…
Flexible working: a day-one right
Currently, an employee needs 26 weeks’ service to make a flexible working request; however, under new regulations laid before parliament, this will become a day one right from 6th April 2024. This new right will apply to all flexible working requests made on or after 6th April 2024, so you may get more requests to work flexibly…
Laddish culture costs Lidl £50,000
In Hunter v Lidl Great Britain Limited, the employer had to compensate a woman whom her manager sexually harassed and other members of staff who thought their behaviour was normal ‘workplace banter’. What happened? When Miss Hunter started working for Lidl as a teenager, she was almost immediately subjected to unwanted advances and comments by…
DWP encourages ‘midlife MOTs’ for employees over 50
Tech company Multiverse found that around 5.3 million workers over 50 are considering early retirement owing to perceived skill gaps. So, the government is encouraging employers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, to offer midlife MOTs to retain and support employees aged 50 and above. The idea involves individuals reflecting on their wealth, well-being and careers,…
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New duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment at work
Here are six things you need to know. 1 What will this new law do? The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which does not apply to Northern Ireland, will place a new pre-emptive duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of employees in the course of their…
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When is a resignation, not a resignation?
When your employee didn’t mean it. In Omar v Epping Forest District Citizens Advice, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that an employment tribunal erred in finding that an employee’s resignation in the heat of the moment was intended. Facts The employee (‘O’) resigned from Epping Forest District Citizens Advice (EFDCA) during an altercation with…
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Largest increase in minimum wage
The government has announced substantial increases to the national living wage (NLW) and national minimum wage (NMW) from 1st April 2024, along with a key change for workers aged 21 and 22. What are the new rates? From 1st April 2024: The NLW rate will rise by 9.8% from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour –…
Fawcett Society publishes employer’s guide on supporting new mothers at work
The Fawcett Society has published an employer’s guide to supporting new mothers at work. It found that, owing to childcare pressures, 11% of working mothers resign, 41% decline a promotion, and only 31% have access to flexible working. The recommendations for employers include: Build a clear policy framework This should be shared with managers and…
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Should you ban personal relationships at work?
ITV has issued new guidelines to staff saying that sexual, romantic or close relationships or friendships with co-workers must be declared at the earliest opportunity. It is estimated that over a quarter of employees meet their long-term partner at work and that more than half have had a personal relationship or office romance with a…
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